Lando Norris won a dramatic Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on Sunday, taking his second consecutive victory and McLaren’s third straight Dutch GP win. He finished 11.536 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli, with George Russell completing the Mercedes double podium.
Race highlights
The race was thrown into chaos almost immediately when Max Verstappen crashed out on the opening lap. The home favourite lost control of his Red Bull in the final banked corner and hit the wall, bringing out the red flag. Verstappen was uninjured, but his home race was over.
At the restart, Antonelli surged past Norris and took control. Mercedes appeared to have the upper hand, but Norris stayed within striking distance and eventually reclaimed the lead with about 18 laps remaining. His superior tyre management allowed him to pull away decisively.
A late Virtual Safety Car created another strategic twist. Antonelli pitted for fresh soft tyres and returned behind Russell. Mercedes subsequently instructed Russell to give the position back to his championship-leading teammate, allowing Antonelli to finish second.
Top 10
Pos. Driver Team
1 Lando Norris McLaren
2 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes
3 George Russell Mercedes
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren
7 Liam Lawson Red Bull
8 Nico Hülkenberg Audi
9 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine
Championship picture
Antonelli strengthened his grip on the championship despite finishing second. He now leads Russell and Hamilton by 59 points, while Norris moved up to fourth and remains within striking distance of the title fight.
The end of an era
The 2026 Dutch GP was especially emotional because it was Zandvoort’s final scheduled Formula 1 race. The circuit returned to the calendar in 2021 after a 36-year absence and quickly became one of F1’s most atmospheric venues, driven by the enormous support of Verstappen’s “Orange Army.”
Bottom line: Norris produced a superb strategic drive to win, Antonelli extended his championship advantage, and Verstappen’s early retirement provided a stunning twist to what became an unforgettable farewell to Zandvoort.
